PULAU JEREJAK

Pulau Jerejak and the Russian cruiser Zhemchug (Pearl) are linked by one of the most dramatic and tragic naval incidents of World War I to occur in Southeast Asian waters: the Battle of Penang.

While Pulau Jerejak is most famous for its dark history as a leper colony and a high-security prison, it also serves as the final resting place for a few of the sailors from the Zhemchug.

1. The Sinking of the Zhemchug (1914)

On October 28, 1914, the Russian protected cruiser Zhemchug was anchored in the Penang Channel (near Swettenham Pier) for boiler repairs and maintenance.

• The Surprise Attack: The German light cruiser SMS Emden, disguised as a British ship with a fake fourth smokestack, slipped into the harbor undetected.
• The Engagement: Once inside, the Emden hoisted the German flag and fired a torpedo at the Zhemchug. A second torpedo struck the Russian ship's magazine, causing a massive explosion that tore the vessel apart.
• The Loss: The ship sank within minutes. Out of the crew, 88-89 sailors were killed and over 120 were wounded.
• The Scandal: The Zhemchug's captain, Baron Ivan Cherkassov, was famously not on board during the attack; he was reportedly staying at the Eastern & Oriental (E&O) Hotel with his wife and watched his ship sink from the shore. He was later court-martialed and imprisoned.

2. The Connection to Pulau Jerejak

While the majority of the dead remained with the wreck or were buried at the Western Road Cemetery in George Town, Pulau Jerejak holds a specific piece of this history:

• The Graves: Two (some sources say three) bodies of Russian sailors washed ashore on the beaches of Pulau Jerejak following the explosion.
• The Memorial: Because the island was then a quarantine and leper station, the bodies were buried where they were found. A small, modest stone memorial was erected on the island to honor them.
• Restoration: The monument on Pulau Jerejak, along with the larger one at Western Road Cemetery, has been restored several times by the Russian (and formerly Soviet) government, most notably in 1972 and 1987.

3. Broader History of Pulau Jerejak

Beyond the Zhemchug connection, the island has a multifaceted and somber history:

Era	Function
1868–1960s	Leper Asylum: One of the earliest and largest leper colonies in the region, housing over 7,000 patients at its peak.
1875–WWII	Quarantine Station: Used to inspect immigrants (mostly from India and China) for diseases like smallpox and cholera before they entered Penang.
1948–1960s	Tuberculosis Sanatorium: Established on the southern part of the island to isolate TB patients.
1969–1993	Penal Colony: Became a maximum-security prison known as the "Alcatraz of Malaysia," housing high-profile detainees and gang members.

4. Today

Today, the Zhemchug wreck still lies at the bottom of the Penang Channel, marked by a buoy. The memorial on Pulau Jerejak remains a site of "pilgrimage" for visiting Russian naval vessels, who often send delegations to lay wreaths at both the island site and the Western Road Cemetery.

Note: Access to the Russian graves on Pulau Jerejak can be difficult as the island has undergone various redev

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2/2/2026: 6.39 p.m